insert for 2500 sq ft

[firemn260]

I know the subject has been beat to death but I still can't decide what insert would fit my needs.

I have a 2500 sq ft rancher. I have a large masonry fireplace in the living room at one end and the master bedroom is at the other end connected by a hallway running through the center. I don't think I will have a problem moving heat through the hallway to the back bed room.
I decided I'm going to go with a large capacity epa rated stove. I have a old Kodiak insert in the basement that I installed myself (thanks to what I've learned on this forum) but it eats up some wood. It did a ok job of moving heat up the basement steps into the long hallway though.

I have search alot of info on here and reviews on other sites. Narrowed it down to regency, lopi, osburn and quadrafire. The local shop carries quadrafire but quoted me a little over 5k to install the biggest one they sell. I'm pretty confident I can handle a safe install myself so that should keep cost down a little.. The osburn had a price I could live with online shipped free. My fireplace is 60" wide so I'm not sure if I'm limited on the surround panels that are available.
Thanks for any advise or input.

 

[begreen]

The big Osburn gets good reviews. A surround can be extended with black painted sheet metal. Or run the insert without the surround.

 

[bholler]

or hell run 2 of them side by side at 60" lol

 

[KB007]

Large inserts are great - we love our Regency i3100, keeps our 1800 sqft 1 storey toasty in the cold northern winters. Most makers offer an oversized surround as well.

If your opening is 60" wide, how big is it overall? Maybe there's room for a nice stove to sit in that opening - I love the look of a ig stove sitting in an old hearth opening.

 

[firemn260]

This Is What I'm Working with. I would love to have a freestanding stove but I think a large insert with a variable speed blower will fit my needs better. I do like the big osburn I'm just wondering how it holds up with the other big names. I don't see as much info floating around on them like I do the regency and such.

 

[Grisu]

If it would be me I would try to fit a stove in there or on the hearth. Would look much better than an insert with a huge surround. How high is the opening at the center and the sides? And how deep is the hearth? The mantel may need a heat shield.

 

[stovelark]

Hi fire- All the inserts you mentioned were good choices. Couple more would be the PE Summit, HS Clydesdale. You are going to have to do an extension of the surround. A big old FS stove with a blower might be a good choice too.

 

[kuma.jason]

Very cool looking Hearth set up you have there. If that mantel is combustible, be sure to look at clearance requirements for the inserts you're considering.

The consensus seems to be get a free standing Stove stuck in there, and I would agree, except the mantel clearance could be an issue. Free standing stoves don't generally have mantel clearance ratings, and often need Hearth to overhead clearance of plus/minus 84".

 

[begreen]

This Is What I'm Working with. I would love to have a freestanding stove but I think a large insert with a variable speed blower will fit my needs better. I do like the big osburn I'm just wondering how it holds up with the other big names. I don't see as much info floating around on them like I do the regency and such.

The Osburn 2400 gets high marks. Have you been to the Reviews section?
https://www.hearth.com/talk/ratings.php

 

[Huntindog1]

This Is What I'm Working with. I would love to have a freestanding stove but I think a large insert with a variable speed blower will fit my needs better. I do like the big osburn I'm just wondering how it holds up with the other big names. I don't see as much info floating around on them like I do the regency and such.

Osburn is a big name in wood heating they are made by SBI one of the Largest Wood Stove builders in the World. I have a Drolet also made by SBI and is well made stove.

 

[KB007]

To me, that opening just screams free standing stove with a rear vent tucked part way into the opening. The height at the centre of the opening will dictate just what stoves, but there are also a numbet that come with short leg kits. Search for some pictures and you'll see there's some folks who have done beautiful setups similar to that.

 

[begreen]

What are the fireplace dimensions?

 

[Dix]

Floor plan, too. Even rough drawn.